DO NOT BE AN ART CRITIC:
BUT PAINT: THEREIN LIES SALVATIONPaul Cézanne

Influences and Inspirations

In kindergarten, my teacher Miss Parker was quick to praise the
"big bright" windows that my friend painted. Wanting to
please, I too fashioned big bold windows. She very promptly told
me not to copy but to come up with my own ideas. Thanks to her,
I realized being original and "different" was a good thing.

In grade three, I was told by the teacher that my purple trees
were silly. "No such thing" she declared. My stubborn
streak emerged stronger than ever, and I continue to revel in painting
high colour in both nature and "reality" scenes. (whatever
reality is)